Comestibles and Portioning Means

ABSTRACT

A packaging method for solid, liquid and dry-powdered comestibles to mitigate a condition of human fatigue among others, with a gauging means including a portion of the container permitting a user to portion a quantity of comestible according to an estimated time-duration for biological activity for the quantity of comestible once it is ingested.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application no. 61/613,586 filed Mar. 30, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a packaging method for gauging theamount of comestible ingested by time incremented portioning means onthe packaging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Time incremented serving means offers a novel way to ingest liquid ordry powdered comestibles which include compositions to alleviatehypoglycemia, and vitamin and energy boosting compositions, amongothers. Many energy boosting compositions contain caffeine. Whileconcern has been raised about the health effects of over-consumingcertain caffeine containing products (Meier, Barry. “Safety Becomes aConcern With High-Caffeine Drinks” New York Times 23 Oct. 2012), it islikely that in the U.S., such products will remain unregulated.

It would especially desirable to provide comestibles for energy boostingpurposes among others, in a package having time-incremented graduationsso that a user can gauge the amount of product will be biologicallyactive in their system once ingested.

It would be desirable to provide a means of gauging the amount ofcomestible consumed, whether by single dose packaging in which theentire contents are placed into the mouth at one time, or multiple dosepackaging.

It would be desirable if the means and methods used to package thecomestibles were applicable for treatment not only of the hypoglycemiccondition, but additionally, for use as energy boosters and dietarysupplementation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed are embodiments according to the present invention that permita user to easily measure a quantity of comestible required for andesired duration for biological activity once the comestible isconsumed. The gauging means of the instant invention (1) permits theuser to see the quantity of product remaining at any time in the productcontainer, and (2) view markings representing increments of time, suchas a window with graduated indicia, so that the contained product isdivisible by time increments, which allows the user to gauge theapproximate time a given quantity of product will be active in theirbody after ingestion. This is particularly important with energyboosting products containing caffeine where a user would not want toover consume the product. An example of this would be a student wishingto have no more than two hours of boosted energy to study for an exam,but planning to sleep thereafter. Consuming more product than necessaryin this case would be detrimental to sleep.

In an aspect of the invention, liquid or powdered comestibles forcorrecting or augmenting human energy levels are supplied in flavoredform in a package or container having a viewing window with graduatedmarkings representing increments of time. Along with a transparentviewing window visible on the outside of the container, conceivably, thegraduation means can be a dropper having increments representing anyunit of time, whether seconds, minutes, hours or days. Preferably, inthe case of energy boosting compositions, the time increments would bein one hour increments. It is also conceivable that the graduation meansof the instant invention include markings corresponding to body weightthat are adjacent the markings for time increments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent invention, reference is now made to the detailed description ofthe invention along with the accompanying figures in which correspondingnumerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts. Drawingfigures used in this disclosure may include trademarked or copyrightedmaterial.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment according to thepresent invention that shows a container, here a can, for containing apowdered composition including a translucent window with timeincremented graduations to indicate product bioactivity by timeduration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according tothe present invention that shows a container, here test tubes, whichinclude a window with time incremented graduations to indicate productbioactivity by time duration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according tothe present invention that shows a container, here a bottle-typecontainer, with time incremented graduations to indicate productbioactivity by time duration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according tothe present invention that shows a container, here a tubular-typepackage, with time incremented graduations to indicate productbioactivity by time duration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according tothe present invention that shows a container, here a dropper-type bottlefor use with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is detail view showing the graduations on the dropper given inhours;

FIG. 7 is a top view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention showing a container, here a paper or plastic package for asolid, bar-type comestible, with a window having graduations in one-hourincrements;

FIG. 8 is side view of one embodiment according to the present inventionshowing a container with a window with product level indicated by 15with sliding indicator 14 to measure a portion by the hour;

FIG. 9 shows the sliding indicator aligned at the top with product level15;

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment according to the present invention showinga container with a window with product level indicated by 15 withsliding indicator 14 which correlates a weight range 11 according to onehour of estimated biological activity;

FIG. 11 depicts a detail view of the sliding indicator 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

U.S. application Ser. No. 13/354,252 filed Feb. 22, 2012 and U.S.application Ser. No. 13/564,887 filed Aug. 2, 2012, both sharing thesame inventor of the instant application and disclosing relevant aspectsof the instant invention, are incorporated herein in their entirely byreference. In the following description, numerous details are set forthto provide an understanding of the present invention. Those skilled inthe relevant art will comprehend that the present invention may bepracticed without these details and that numerous variations ormodifications from the described embodiments may be possible.Accordingly, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative onlyand not intended to be limiting. Unless otherwise explained, anytechnical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understoodby one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” isintended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The term “image” refers to any kind of marking applied at anypoint in the disclosed production process to the sleeved device whethertextual or decorative. The term “comprises” means “includes.” The term“time graduated” or “time graduations” or “time incremented” means anyvisible indicator of time-duration applied to the level or amount ofcomestible product remaining in a container after a first, or subsequentuse. The term “graduations” without the “time” qualifier can mean anytype of graduated markings Although methods and materials similar orequivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice ortesting of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are describedbelow. Publications, patent applications, patents, and other referencesmentioned herein, if any, are incorporated by reference in theirentirety for all purposes. In case of conflict, the presentspecification, including explanations of terms, will control.

The following are merely examples of ways the time-incrementedgraduating means of the present invention can be used with variousliquid and solid or powdered dry compositions, and are illustrativeonly.

Hypoglycemic Corrective

1) At least 9 grams of total carbohydrates to include at least 7 gramsof sugar obtained from the D-glucose/Maltodextrin composition, orpackage in a single dose package including at least 4 grams of totalcarbohydrates to include at least 4 grams of sugar in the form of theD-glucose/Maltodextrin composition; and,

2) with a liquid carrier such as water, or in dry powdered form, packagesingle dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depicted in FIGS. 1-10in which the container possesses a viewing window sufficientlytranslucent to enable a consumer to view the level of product present inthe container. The viewing window has markings on it or adjacent to itthat allow the consumer to estimate the duration of time for thebiological activity for a discrete quantity of product once it isconsumed.

Energy Booster

1) Beginning with a composition such as the hypoglycemic corrective, addflavoring and energy boosting ingredients which are capable of passingthrough at least a #80 mesh screen which are taken from at least one ofthe following: ginseng, gotu kola, ginger, tumeric, maitake, MSM, DMAE,NADH, licorice root, black walnut, fennel, peppermint, and cayenne,rhodiola, DHA, EPA, ascorbic acid, B-vitamins, CO-Q10, caffeine; and,

2) mix in a drying (dehydrating) powder blender for at least 20 minutes;and,

3) with a liquid carrier such as water, or remaining in dry powderedform, package single dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depictedin FIGS. 1-10 having a window that shows the current product level. Itshould be noted in the case of energy boosters and vitamin supplementswith and without caffeine, the graduations represent time incrementssuch as 1 hr, 2 hr , 3 hr and so forth.

Vitamin Supplement

1) Beginning with a composition such as the hypoglycemic corrective, addflavorings and ingredients which are capable of passing through at leastan #80 mesh screen which are taken from at least one of the following:ginseng, gotu kola, ginger, tumeric, maitake, MSM, DMAE, NADH, licoriceroot, black walnut, fennel, peppermint, and cayenne, rhodiola, DHA, EPA,ascorbic acid, CO-Q10, B-vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E,folic acid, biotin, panothenic acid, iodine, iron, magnesium, zinc,inositol, calcium, selenim, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum,potassium, boron, betaine Hcl, caffeine;

2) mix in a drying (dehydrating) powder blender for at least 20 minutes;and,

3) with a liquid carrier such as water, or remaining in dry powderedform, package single dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depictedin FIGS. 1-4.

Dietary Fiber Supplement

1) Beginning with base composition, add flavorings and ingredients whichare capable of passing through at least an #80 mesh screen which aretaken from at least one of the following: soluble fiber, insolublefiber;

2) mix in a drying (dehydrating) powder blender for at least 20 minutes;and,

3) with a liquid carrier such as water, or in dry powdered form, packagesingle dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depicted in FIGS. 1-4.

Because caffeine, as well as other energy boosting stimulants aremetabolized by the body at a certain rate, the consumer using themethods disclosed herein, can gauge how much product to ingest for agiven duration of time which is useful to avoid ingesting more productthan required. The graduated window also indicates to the consumer howmuch product they have previously ingested, lest they forget. Thegauging means having demarcations that indicate increments of time ortime durations be used with dry or liquid based compositions.

Generally referring to FIGS. 1-10, various product packages 10′ areshown having a window 12 which is sufficiently translucent ortransparent to permit viewing of an instant product level. The windowsare accompanied by markings of time increments. The time increments canbe any increment of time, but are preferably given in hours because ofthe half-life of a given quantity of caffeine in the human body isapproximately five hours. The package can be of any suitable material,the form the packaging takes, includes, but is not limited to: cans,cellophane packaging or the like, test tubes, bottles, paper or plasticpackages of any shape and size, or dropper-type bottles. The window canbe formed with the package, or added to the package, such as a printedsleeve placed over a container portion of the package. An example ofthis is when the package or container is clear, and the sleeve includesopaque portions or decorative elements, and a translucent window 12which would permit viewing of the packaged contents.

Regardless of the added flavorings and ingredients, ingestion ofdiscrete quantities of the comestible can be gauged by a user accordingto an estimated time duration for biological activity by using thetime-incremented gauging means. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the gaugingmeans can include a sliding indicator 14 to align with the instantproduct level 15. Along with a single window having one instance of atime increment such as 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, the gauging means canincorporate weight ranges (FIG. 10) for even more accurate gauging meansfor estimating biological activity.

While the invention has been described by the embodiments given, it isnot intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular formset forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover suchalternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed.

1. A Consumer packaged good for liquid or dry comestibles that areconsumed in order to mitigate a condition of human fatigue among others,comprising: 1) a container holding multiple servings of the comestible,2) a gauging means for portioning a measured amount of the comestible onwhich markings given in pre-printed increments of units of time arevisible along with the current level of comestible, and, whereby aquantity of comestible is dispensed for consumption with reference tothe markings and without further reliance on volumetric indicia or timesof day according to a predetermined time-duration estimate forbiological activity once ingested.
 2. The package according to claim 1in which the gauging means is a window through which the comestiblelevel corresponding to the increments of time including units of timemarked as minutes or hours, is viewable.
 3. A method for portioningliquid or dry comestibles to mitigate a condition of human fatigue amongothers, comprising the steps of: 1) providing a package having multipleservings of a comestible, 2) with the package, providing a window withpre-printed markings thereon given in incremented units of time throughwhich an instant level of comestible is visible within the package forportioning a measured amount of comestible corresponding to an incrementof time, and, whereby a quantity of comestible is dispensed based on thelevel of comestible corresponding to the markings without requiringfurther quantitative measurement according to a predeterminedtime-duration estimate for biological activity once ingested.